Responding to the latest NHS performance figures from NHS England, the director of policy and strategy at NHS Providers, Isabel Lawicka, said:

"These figures show trusts and staff are providing more tests and treatment for patients, and delivering some progress in important areas, but no one is in any doubt that there is a very long way to go.

"The improvements in cancer diagnosis times are particularly encouraging.

"It's also good to see sustained progress on the waiting list for planned appointments and treatments, though this will need to accelerate significantly to meet the government's very ambitious 18-week target.

"Ambulance response times are coming down despite continuing high demand, but the pressures in A&E are all-too-evident with far too many patients facing very long delays before they can be admitted.

"It is vital that we turn the tide on the growing waiting list for community services, particularly for long waits in children and young peoples' services which have more than doubled since last year.

"This month also saw the highest ever number of children and young people still waiting for contact from community mental health services.

"There is no let up in these operational pressures and financial worries are adding to concerns about sustaining improvements in the months ahead."